Method and apparatus for beverage extraction needle guiding

Abstract

Devices and methods for guiding a needle in movement through a bottle closure, such as a cork, to extract fluids from the bottle without removal of the cork. A needle may be attached to a device body by a needle base, which includes a surface arranged to engage with a needle guide to guide movement of the needle base and needle relative to the guide. A needle guide may also provide a shield for the needle tip and / or a needle opening.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. provisional application No. 61 / 711,485, filed Oct. 9, 2012, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0002]This invention relates generally to the dispensing or other extraction of fluids from within a container, e.g., in the dispensing of wine from a wine bottle.SUMMARY OF INVENTION[0003]One or more embodiments in accordance with aspects of the invention allow a user to withdraw or otherwise extract a beverage, such as wine, from within a container that is sealed by a cork, plug, elastomeric septum or other closure without removing the closure. In some cases, removal of liquid from such a container may be performed one or more times, yet the closure may remain in place during and after each beverage extraction to maintain a seal for the container. Thus, the beverage may be dispensed from the bottle multiple times and stored for extended periods betwe...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0003]One or more embodiments in accordance with aspects of the invention allow a user to withdraw or otherwise extract a beverage, such as wine, from within a container that is sealed by a cork, plug, elastomeric septum or other closure without removing the closure. In some cases, removal of liquid from such a container may be performed one or more times, yet the closure may remain in place during and after each beverage extraction to maintain a seal for the container. Thus, the beverage may be dispensed from the bottle multiple times and stored for extended periods between each extraction with little or no effect on beverage quality. In some embodiments, little or no gas, such as air, which is reactive with the beverage may be introduced into the container either during or after extraction of beverage from within the container. Thus, in some embodiments, a user may withdraw wine from a wine bottle without removal of, or damage to, the cork, and without allowing air or other potentially damaging gasses or liquids entry into the bottle.

[0004]In one aspect of the invention, a beverage extraction device includes a base for supporting components of the beverage extraction device, and a needle movably mounted to the base and arranged to be inserted through a closure at an opening of a beverage container. The needle may extend from a proximal end to a distal end and have at least one lumen that is arranged for introducing gas into a container or allowing beverage to flow from the container. A needle base may be arranged at the proximal end of the needle and have an engagement surface, and a needle guide may be attached to the base and have an opening, such as a slot or circular opening, to guide the needle in movement relative to the base. An engagement surface of the needle guide may be arranged to contact the engagement surface of the needle base to guide movement of the needle base and needle relative to the needle guide. Engagement of the needle guide with the needle base may help properly align a portion of the needle with the needle guide, and / or help reduce bending stress on the needle as the needle is inserted into the container closure. In addition, the needle guide may help shield the needle tip from contact, and / or help shield any spray from the needle opening.

[0006]In another embodiment, the needle base may include a hole that receives a portion of the needle guide. For example, the needle base may include a hole that flares outwardly and downwardly around the needle shaft and receives a tapered protrusion of the needle guide. Engagement of the hole of the needle base with the protrusion may help guide the needle's movement and / or help reduce stress on the needle. In yet another embodiment, the needle base and needle guide may each have a pair of engagement surfaces, e.g., that are concentric relative to each other and engage with a corresponding engagement surface of the needle base or guide.

[0009]In another aspect of the invention, the needle guide may help shield the needle tip from contact, and / or help shield unwanted spray from the needle opening. For example, the needle may have an opening near the distal end of the needle, and the needle guide may have a through hole arranged to receive the needle and to direct any liquid expelled from the needle opening away from the proximal end of the needle. In one embodiment, the through hole may have a tapered shape so that the through hole is wider at a lower end, i.e., at a location located further from a proximal end of the needle than an upper end of the through hole. The size and shape of the through hole at the upper end may closely approximate the needle shaft so that if any liquid is discharged from the needle opening (e.g., by operating a valve to discharge gas from the needle opening), the liquid may be directed by the through hole in a direction away from the proximal end of the needle. This may direct the liquid to flow away from the user, avoiding contact of the liquid with the user.

[0010]In another aspect of the invention, a method for extracting a beverage from a container includes inserting a needle through a closure of a container by moving the needle toward a needle guide. The closure may seal an opening of the container prior to needle insertion such that a beverage in the container is prevented from passing through the opening. For example, the closure may be a cork of a wine bottle that seals the wine bottle opening closed. A surface of a needle base positioned near a proximal end of the needle may be engaged with the needle guide, e.g., as the needle is inserted into the closure, to guide movement of the needle relative to the needle guide. The surface of the needle base in some embodiments may be positioned around a radially outer side of the needle, e.g., may include a conical surface positioned radially around the needle shaft. A beverage may be extracted from the container via the needle while the needle is inserted through the closure, e.g., by introducing gas into the container via the needle and allowing beverage to flow through the needle and outside of the container.

[0011]The needle may be arranged to be used with closures that include a material capable of resealing upon withdrawal of the needle from the closure. For example, typical wine bottle corks may allow a needle to be passed through the cork to extract wine from the bottle, and then reseal upon removal of the needle such that gas and / or liquid are prevented from passing through the cork after needle removal.

Problems solved by technology

Thus, in some embodiments, a user may withdraw wine from a wine bottle without removal of, or damage to, the cork, and without allowing air or other potentially damaging gasses or liquids entry into the bottle.

Images